Tuesday 25 December 2007

XMAS / NEW YEAR 2008



I don't send christmas cards, so this isn't a christmas card! But you like the trees and snow so that's why I chose this Inshallah you have a fantastic new year

I learnt that around the world too Baptist and Jehovah's Witnesses too dont celebrate Christmas! And it was only in 350 A.D., that December 25 was declared the official date for celebrating Christmas by Pope Julius I and that orthodox celebrate it 7 january...

I would like to invite you to spare a few moments of your life and read what the Qur'an says about Mary and Jesus (may peace be upon them).

[(And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah).
He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous.] (Aal `Imran 3:45-46)


Naturally, for Mary, this news was both strange and seemingly impossible.

[She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.
And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel.] (Aal `Imran 3:47-48 )


To read more Click Here

Just because we don't have the same beliefs, doesn't mean we can't try to understand each other better and treat each other with kindness and respect :

Prophet of Islam (pbuh) setting the example that there is freedom of worship in Islam for all who believe in God :

The Treaty with the Christians of Najran

The 9th year of Hijra was of great importance because of the treaty with the Christians of Najran, This treaty is regarded of vital importance because it was the result neither of war nor of any discussion but ended in Mubahela between the Prophet pbuh and the Christians of Najran.(This means cursing each other).

The Christians of Najran were unhappy because of the rapid spread of Islam in the land of Arabs. They wished to discuss this matter with the Prophet (pbuh) and arrived in Madina. Few learned scholars were selected by the Christians who had a continuous dialogue with the Prophet for three days. It started on Saturday, when Sunday arrived and they asked to leave to go outside the city to pray the Prophet (pbuh) told them to stay and pray inside the Mosque of the Prophet which they did to their surprise. Prophet of Islam was setting the example that there is freedom of worship in Islam for all who believe in God. After their Sunday service their discussion continued. They were unable to arrive on any mutual understanding. The sticking point was the claim by the Christians of the divinity of Jesus Christ pbuh as the son of God. The Prophet (pbuh) told them, “ The birth of Jesus Christ is similar to the birth of Adam. Allah created Adam without father and mother while Jesus was born without a father and from his mother only. None of the two was the son of God. This is the truth, for you accept the creation of Adam without parents yet do not claim him to be of divine essence. Why then do you deviate from this truth." When they did not agree on this point revelation from Allah came on the Prophet. (Sura Ale Imran V 61) The Verse reads like this.” If you are not prepared to accept the truth after the fact that you have failed in your arguments, Say, Come now, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our Selves and Your Selves, then let us humbly pray and so lay God’s curse upon the ones who lie.”

The next morning the Prophet (pbuh) emerged from his house with his closest family. He held the hand of Imam Hasan (peace on him) walking beside him, held Imam Hussain (peace on him) in his arms, followed by his daughter Fatimah (peace on her). She was followed by Ali (peace on him). He came and stood with this family in front of the Christian Bishops who also came forward to perform the Mubahela. The chief of the Christians was Bishop Abul Harris. When he saw this small family of the Prophet pbuh he turned towards his fellow christians and told them,” do not indulge in Mubahela with this family, for I am observing such pious faces that if they would order the mountain to come to them the mountain shall move towards them. It is therefore prudent to make treaty with them rather than confrontation of this spiritual imminence. They asked the Prophet pbuh for peace and it was accepted. The Prophet pbuh extended the hand of friendship towards them, a treaty was signed and both parties left on friendly terms.
=========

Christmas is also time for gift-giving and cakes and special food ... Please keep those less fortunate in your thoughts.

May 2008 bring everyone peace and happiness Inshaallah

Thank you

Mohamed

Wednesday 19 December 2007

HAPPY EID



السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

As-salamu aleykum wa rahmetullahi wa barakatu

I want to take this chance to be the first to wish you all a happy Eid-ul-Adha and may Allah bless you and your families, May Allah aid all the people of the world who are under oppression, who are suffering in illness, in poverty and in war...

The sacrifice that is offered by Muslims all over the world every year (at Eid-ul-Adha) is in commemoration of the supreme act and spirit of sacrifice offered by Prophet Abraham in lieu of his son Ismail (peace be upon them both).

In terms of beliefs, a Muslim must believe in all of the Prophets. This includes not just Prophet Ibrahim, but his sons Ismail, Ishaq, his grandson Yaqub and of course his descendant Prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon them all).

Every day, five times a day, in virtually every time zone on this planet, Muslim ask Allah to send His blessings on Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) in the course of his/her prayer.

More importantly, the direction in which every Muslim must face when praying is towards a structure he built with his son Ismail:

"The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka (another name for Makkah); full of blessings and guidance for all kinds of beings: in it are signs manifest, the station of Abraham-whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to God-those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, God stands not in need of any of His creatures" (Quran 3:96-97).

When it comes to the five pillars of Islam (The pilgrimage ), the importance of Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) becomes even more evident...

Thursday 29 November 2007

China : Islamic Calligraphy

Calligraphy literally means writing beautifully and ornamentally; Sini is a Chinese Islamic calligraphic form for the Arabic script.

Invocation drawn in a single stroke, by Ma Jinhua, Cangzhou, Hebei, 2002. "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful." From the collection of the Cangzhou West Mosque:



The Chinese and Arabic calligraphic traditions have often been compared as the two of the world's finest manifestations of the written word, but never likened; indeed, they are at once opposites and complements. When combined the result is an artistic piece that is a work of incredibly unique beauty, and a testimony to man's synthesizing genius.

Noor Deen's extraordinary mastery and genius along with his unique ability to spectacularly deliver his craft to an audience has brought him lecture and workshop invitations from some of the most renowned and prestigious institutions around the world, including: Harvard University, Cambridge University, University of California-Berkley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Bukhari Institute and many others. He currently lectures Arabic calligraphy at the Islamic College in Zhen Zhou, China and the Zaytuna Institute in California.

Doesnt this and the Great Mosque in Xian, demonstrates once again the historical ability of Muslims to survive in varied religious and political climates:

Monday 12 November 2007

For our French Friends

Money promised by a bank in Baghdad could be cashed in Spain, Yes the cheque system of today!

Engineers, scholars and traders of the Islamic world contributed enormously to the arts, agriculture, economics, industry, literature, navigation, philosophy, sciences, and technology, both by preserving and building upon earlier traditions and by adding many inventions and innovations of their own.[3] Muslim philosophers and poets, artists and scientists, and princes and laborers, created a unique culture that has influenced societies on every continent ...

Islam: Empire of Faith is a documentary series, made in 2000, that details the history of Islam , from the birth of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the Ottoman Empire. It is narrated by Ben Kingsley and is available as three DVDs or two video volumes in NTSC format.

The first episode deals with the life of Muhammad (peace be upon him) , the second with the Arab Empire, Crusades, and Mongol invasion, and the third with the Ottoman Empire and Safavid dynasty.



Islam: Empire of Faith Click on to get part1,2 and 3 Original version (English)

or click on here


Then Mongols converted ...

Tuesday 6 November 2007

Southeast Asia : Brunei

Why was it hard for me to imagine what i discovered in this small country?

Along the riverfront in Bandar Seri Begawan is the largest water village in Asia, Kampong Ayer. About 30,000 people live here the way they have for at least 1,500 years...Leaving the river would be leaving their traditional culture behind, and it is a cost they don't wish to pay.



Islam spread through northwest Borneo in the 15th century. The first Muslim ruler of Brunei was Awang Alakber Tabar, who took the name Muhammad when he accepted Islam. He married a Muslim princess from Johor. Throughout the 15th century, Brunei was overshadowed by the powerful state of Malacca. When the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, many Malaccan Muslims migrated to Brunei, raising Brunei’s importance.

By the 19th century, much of this empire had been whittled away by war, piracy, and the colonial expansion of European nations.

The small sultanate has amazing mosques :




















Saturday 13 October 2007

Eid Mubarak

Asalaamu Alaikum

Eid Mubarak






Thursday 13 September 2007

Ramadhan : Orphan

RAMADAN!!!

... another opportunity for us to make changes in our lives and help others in the process. Many of us may not live to see next Ramadan, so let us take full advantage of its blessings.

"As for the orphan, do not oppress him; and as for the beggar, turn him not away." (Qur’an 93:9)

"And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan, and the captive..." [Soorah al-Insaan, 8]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
"I and the person who looks after an orphan will be in Paradise together like this..." - then he raised his forefinger and middle finger together.
(Hadith Bukhari)


"One who cares for widows and the poor is like those who fight in the way of Allah or those who spend their days fasting and their nights praying." [Agreed upon, also in Adab al-Mufrad of Imaam Al-Bukhari in chapter "The Virtue of Those Who Care for Orphans"]

A man once came to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam, and complained that he feels hardness in his heart. The Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "Would you like that your heart becomes soft and that you acquire what you need? Be merciful with the orphan, pat his head and feed him from what you eat. This will soften your heart, and enable you to get what you need." [At-Tabaraanee & As-Silsilah as-Saheehah]

"Whoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Judgment" [Saheeh Muslim]

"No day dawns upon [Allah's] servants without two angels descending [to Earth]. One of them says, 'O Allah, give recompense (khalaf) to those who give [charity]!'; the other says, 'O Allah give loss (talaf) to those who withhold [charity]!'"
[Agreed upon]


In a big way or small way, you can help the needy...Get Involved

"They ask thee what they should spend (In charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, -God knoweth it well." - Qur'an




Human Appeal International
And
Islamic Relief
Young Muslims

Friday 7 September 2007

Qur'an search





Thursday 6 September 2007

Muslim Travels Around the World : Spain

The Mosque of Cordova


Rashed Radwan will join Islamonline this Friday , September 7, at 16:00 GMT to speak about Spain: country and people.

The Muslims played a principal role in the history of Spain.

Al-Andalus, is referred to the cities of Almeria, Malaga, Cadiz, Huelva, Seville, Cordoba, Jaen and Granada.

Do not miss out and feel free to send you questions, ideas, and comments

"Throughout the period of Islamic rule, Al-Andalus was a remarkable example and outstanding model of tolerance."

Tuesday 4 September 2007

Never miss a day without The Qur'an

Read one page of Quran in arabic each day with this simple program. Its very helpful to those of us who overspend time on our computers...

It is very simple and does not slow down your computer.

Spread the word.

Friday 31 August 2007

Muslim Travels Around the World : Malaysia

Mosquée Masjid Zahir



Idris Tawfiq will join ISLAMONLINE this Saturday, September 1, at 12:30 GMT to speak about his trip to Malaysia. Malaysia has been picked for this week's session to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence (August 31).

Wednesday 22 August 2007

Muslim Travels Around the World : Japan



"Muslim Travels Around the World" is a new theme that IslamOnline.net (IOL) has planned to cover through a series of live sessions.

Join Muhammad in an online trip to Japan. He will tell us about his experience in the "Land of the Rising Sun," as the Japanese call it. The session will be InshaAllah tomorrow at 12:00 GMT.

Marwan Muhammad is a French Muslim who visited Japan and returned back with a lot of discoveries and adventures.

Marwan Mohammad, IOL Correspondent in France, is a French Muslim of Egyptian and Algerian origins, he works as an engineer in financial mathematics. He studied at the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches sur l'Islam (CERSI), an Islamic institute in Paris, France. Now he is a student at the Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance (IIBI) in London, the UK.

There you can find photos taken by Marwan Muhammad during his trip to Japan

The first knowledge of Islam and the Muslims started with the translation of some work on the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the Japanese language.

Useful links :

Islamic information in Japan

MOSQUES IN JAPAN

Directions by Car to The Islamic Culture Center Osaka

You are welcome to study Japanese (or other languages for exchange) here at JOL.

Kon'nichi wa. (Hello.)
Ohayoo Gozaimasu. (Good morning.)

Saturday 18 August 2007

Quran, Hadeeth and Other Books on Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ, AOL, Google Talk, Jabber, IRC (DalNet,UnderNet,IRCQNet,ZaNet,AustNet,Uzbeck) and more

Assalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatahu

To read Quran and Hadeeth on Instant messengers :

For MSN add the name " quran.noble " in your contact list

send a message and when you write in the box just type " demo "


Yahoo!: Quran.Noor
Yahoo!: Quran.Mubeen
MSN : Quran.Noble@hotmail.com
MSN : Quran.Noble@gmail.com
GTalk-Jabber: Quran.Noble@gmail.com
AOL: QuranNoble or RafeeqA
ICQ : 44421074 or 11431053

Type help or demo to get Started

QuranTranslations

Commands for Hadeeth and other Books are:
Bukhari, Muslim, Dawud, Malik, Riyad, Nawawi, Qudsi, Dua, Explain, Sermon, FAQ, البخاري, N-My ...

Type Help for each commands like Muslim Help

Sunday 12 August 2007

Quran Hadeeth And Other For Yahoo Messenger Users

Yahoo Messenger users, add the name " quran.kareem " in your contact list

send a message and when you write in the box just type " demo "

quran.kareem: Let me show you a Demo... Suppose you want me to
Quote Surah Al-Ikhlas then type followings:-
-
quran.kareem: Quran Al-Ikhlas:1-4 <=== This is what you type. أكب لكم
quran.kareem:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ
Welcome Back ( My username on yahoo ) to Quran Hadeeth and other Books BOT.. V4.0
Your last Ayah was from Surah:4.An-Nisa' Ayah:113
No Default Translation set, using Saheeh-international.
Last seen: 3 days, 2 hours, 7 minutes ago.


quran.kareem: Translation Of The Meanings Of The Glorious Quran. Surah:112.Al-Ikhlas.
quran.kareem: 1. Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
quran.kareem: 2. Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
quran.kareem: 3. He neither begets nor is born,
quran.kareem: 4. Nor is there to Him any equivalent." ۞559
quran.kareem: The Meaning of the Quran by Saheeh International. V9.3


Was happy to find it on net

What a clever little Muslim who created this!

Save that username!

Saturday 4 August 2007

Saudi Arabia : Makkah & Madinah



Wearing the simple white garments of ihram :

I respond to Your call, O Allah!
I respond to Your call and I am obedient to Your Orders.
You have no partner.
I respond to Your call.
All the praises and the blessings are for You.
All the sovereignty is for You.
And You have no partners with You.

Those sweet words which Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), first heard all those years ago.

Preparing for any journey is, in many ways, almost as important as the journey itself. As I prepared for my journey to Makkah, my heart already began to stir at the enormity of what I was about to do. I had read all the books and consulted all the manuals so that my `Umrah, in sha’ Allah, would be accepted. I learned the prayers in Arabic that I would need to say at different parts of the pilgrimage.

As the plane took off, I said these words. As we flew across the Red Sea and landed in Jeddah, I continued to say them. As I said them, my heart filled with excitement as I traveled by car through the Makkan hills and approached the city. More tears came as I arrived in Makkah and saw the sanctuary for the first time FROM A DISTANCE.

But nothing can describe the feeling of entering the sacred mosque and seeing the holy Ka`bah. I was choking with tears, the mosque left me breathless and filled me with an immense joy. Not even the hardest of hearts could be left unmoved by the grace, simplicity, and majesty of the Ka`bah, which has been on this spot since the beginning of time itself. I kept telling myself that in this very place our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) walked and prayed, as well as countless millions of other good Muslims through the centuries.

And so I performed the rituals of `Umrah, my heart beating with joy and tears running down my cheeks. For something so profound, the rituals were really very simple. They basically involved walking around the Ka`bah seven times and then running or walking seven times between the hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwa, in imitation of that desperate search for water made by Hagar, which culminated in the spring of Zamzam gushing from the ground. Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us to say just one prayer as we encircle the Ka`bah as follows:

May Our Lord grant us blessings in this life,
Blessings in the life to come,
And save us from the torment of the hell-fire.

Most pilgrims usually finish their pilgrimage to Makkah by spending a few days in Madinah, the city of our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the first Muslim state ever.

But what can I say? How can I describe an experience so profound and so beautiful? Shall I say that it was the most blessed experience of my life?

I, I cherish the memories of those days in Saudi Arabia in my heart, and I say al-hamdu lillah. I pray that Almighty Allah will give me the strength to be a good Muslim. I pray that I will always be prompt and faithful to prayer. I pray that I will now learn and recite more of the Qur’an every day. And, after the experience of a lifetime, I pray that I will always give good examples to my Muslim brothers and sisters, and that I can show to non-Muslims how sweet and beautiful the message of Islam is. Ameen. Ameen. Ameen.



Thousands of pilgrims from almost every nation on earth may tell you the same experience :

When Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the intimate friend of Allah, was commanded all those years ago to proclaim the pilgrimage to Makkah, he did so in faith. Standing in what was little more than a barren, inhospitable desert, he called out for men and women to come on pilgrimage to the holy Ka`bah at Allah’s command. He was astonished at the response. From the north, south, east, and west, he heard voices calling out, "I respond to Your call, O Allah! I respond to Your call," and people began to come from all the corners of the earth in praise of Almighty Allah :

http://www.islamonline.net/english/OnthePa...006/05/01.shtml

Sunday 29 July 2007

Bosnia-Herzegovina : 600 years of Islam

Bosnian Muslims celebrated yesterday 600 years of Islam with a concert of spiritual music, a prayer for peace, and a gentle reminder to Europe: not all of the continent's Muslims are of immigrant origin.

The festivities titled 'Moj Ummete' - derived from the Arabic word 'Umma' (community)



In Sarajevo there is a tradition of coexistence with Christians and Jews.

Reis-ul-Ulema Mustafa Ceric known to be a mediator between Islam and Christianity said :

"If an Egyptian has the right to be a patriot for his country in the name of Islam, then we European Muslims can also be European patriots in the name of Islam. That does not mean forgetting the Orient – that is where the sun rises. All great religions look to the Orient; as always, it is a point of "orientation". Jews, Christians and Muslims all have their roots there. But we live in Europe. As a European Muslim, I want to make my contribution to European civilization and be automatically recognized as such."

Pakistan : The City of Gardens ( Baghbanpura, Lahore )

I’ve been enjoying my quiet time out in the garden!!! It’s where I want to write but I’m still all that interested in surfing...It is Shalimir Garden that I want to read about.

The Shalimir Garden are today a popular ground for people escaping the heat of Lahore. The park is always busy, and people come to simply walk around, to those who come for picnics, to the few who come to play cricket. The garden is majestic in it's size, and pretty impressive when you see the fountains and consider that they were built without modern technology.



The Shalimar Gardens (Urdu: شالیمار باغ), sometimes written Shalamar Gardens, were built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in Lahore, modern day Pakistan ( The Mughals ruled the Indian subcontinent between 1526 and 1858, in an area now divided among India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Kashmir.):

The generous water supply and dramatic water falls became possible due to the engineering skills of Ali Mardan Khan, buried not far from his favorite garden, adept at constructing canals for supply of water. Ali Mardan Khan proposed to the Emperor that the waters of the Ravi be brought from Rajpot (Present day Madhpur in India) to Lahore. Shah Jahan approved, and within two years, a canal named Shah Nahar (Royal Canal) over 100 miles long was completed. The complex water storage, system of aqueducts and hydraulic devised by Mughal architects and engineers, to provide water supply on a large scale in the flat terrain of the Punjab simulating the undulating and dramatic sites of the Kashmir is a tribute to their ingenuity and skill.

Once the canal was completed, a royal edict was issued in 1641 to commence the garden...

These gardens contained more than a hundred species of plants, including evergreens, screwpines and other trees, roses, violets, sunflowers, cockscombs, and several varieties of jasmines. The gardens were not only enchanting places of repose but also yielded a substantial revenue in roses and musk mallow. In the eyes of contemporary French travelers these gardens were the equal of Versailles.

Saturday 21 July 2007

Pakistan : Land of the Pure






That was a lot we had to see and digest in LAST day...

There are times when you can't just take sides ... I present this because of my feeling on what is happening on the "Land of the Pure."

That should leave us thinking of where things are wrong :

I learnt that Pakistan was supposed to be the Islamic State. The proposal was first enunciated in 1930 by the poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal. In a 1933 pamphlet Choudhary Rahmat Ali, a Cambridge student, coined the name Pakstan (later Pakistan), on behalf of those Muslims living in Punjab, Afghan (North-West Frontier Province), Kashmir, Sind, and Balochistan. Alternatively the name was said to mean "Land of the Pure."

The poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal said too:

"Manf-e-at ek hai is qaum ki nuqsaan bhi ek
ek hi sab ka nabi deen bhi iman bhi ek
harame paak bhi Allah bhi Quran bhi ek
kuchh bari baat thi hote jo Musalman bhi ek"

"There is one common gain and one common loss for all Muslims. (Remember the Prophet’s hadith that all Muslims are like a body.) One Prophet (pbuh) for all and one Iman for all. One Ka’aba, one Allah and one Qur’an for all. How great it would be if Muslims also were one!"

Will we ever learn to follow the mid-path?? the path taught by Islam??

Let us pray to Allah to unite our hearts in the path of Islam. Efforts must be made to avoid blaming each other and concentration must me focused on how to live and help each other to live peacefully and in harmony.

kuchh bari baat thi hote jo Musalman bhi ek
How great it would be if Muslims also were one






Friday 6 July 2007

Italia : Spaghetti history

We have been told that it was Marco Polo who introduced spaghetti to Venice, Italy. He supposedly brought it from one of his voyages to the far east in the late 13th century...

A century before the birth of Marco Polo, in 1154, a reference can be found in "The Book of Roger" written by Abu Abdullah Mohammed al Edrisi, a court chronicler and geographer to King Roger II of Sicily. It states that in the Sicilian town of Trabia, a form of pasta made from hard wheat was eaten by its inhabitants. This product was shaped into long strands and manufactured in large quantities for export.

The spaghetti Marco Polo found was made from either rice flour or hard wheat flour, the historical references to the variety of durum wheat known in Sicily during the middle ages, had been introduced to the region by muslims, like lemons and oranges.

When al Edrisi visited his relatives in Sicily his fame and competence eventually led to the attention of Roger II to invit him to his court and was very hospitable to him. He asked him to draw a map of the earth. He responded by drawing a map of the world then known, on a planisphere 3 metres long and 1.5 metres wide. He also wrote a book for him entitled 'Nuzhat Al Mushtaq Fi Ikhtiraq al AFaq', also known as Roger's book, to describe ' this map.

Some of the book's statements were revolutionary for their time, things like "the earth is round like a sphere. " The Book of Roger is considered one of the most important scientific works of the Middle Ages. Praised by Sicily's Muslims, Jews and Orthodox ("Eastern") Christians, it was not generally appreciated by the medieval popes or the Roman Catholic clergy, and for that reason its knowledge was sometimes suppressed in western Europe.

The Maghrebi ( from Marroco) geographer Abu Abdulla Mohammad Al Sabti better known as Al Sharif (the noble) Al Idrisi being a descendant of the Idrisi Kings of Maghreb and grandsons of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) through Al Hassan Ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib. Al Idrisi (493-548 A.H./11 00-1154 A.D.)

Al-Idrisi’s book ‘Nuzhat al-Mushtaq fi Ikhtiraq al-Afaq’ (The Delight of Him Who Desires to Journey Through The Climates) is a geographical encyclopaedia, which contains detailed maps and information on European countries, Africa and Asia. Later, he compiled a more comprehensive encyclopaedia, entitled ‘Rawd-Unnas wa-Nuzhat al-Nafs’ (Pleasure of Men and Delight of Souls).

In addition to geography, Al Idrisi also contributed to the science of medicinal plants. His major contribution in this field lies in he medicinal plants as presented in his several books, especially Kitab al-Jami-li-Sifat Ashtat al-Nabatat (Compendium of plants and their properties). He reviewed and synthesized all the material available on the subject of medicinal plants and associated drugs available to him from Muslim scientists and added to it his research collection from his travels.

He contributed this material to the subject of botany with emphasis on medicinal plants. He has given the names of the drugs in six languages: Syriac, Greek, Persian, Hindi, Latin and Berber.

Besides botany and geography, Idrisi also wrote on fauna, zoology and therapeutically aspects. His work was soon translated into Latin.

His books on geography remained popular both in the East and the West for several centuries.

Wednesday 4 July 2007

Good News too on TV!

This early morning I am very happy,VERY HAPPY...

The release of Mr Alan Johnston is The Victory.

Tuesday 19 June 2007

Italy : Arabic Edition

Wasn’t Islamic medicine the most advanced in the world!?

Wasn’t Al-Quanun dominating medical education and practice in Europe and Asia for centuries.

Believe me, even after ten centuries, the achievements of Islamic medicine look amazingly modern.

Al-Quanun (Canon), containing over a million words, described complete studies of physiology, pathology and hygiene. He specifically discourseed on breast cancer, poisons, diseases of the skin, rabies, insomnia, childbirth and the use of obstetrical forceps, meningitis, amnesia, stomach ulcers, tuberculosis as a contagious disease, facial tics, phlebotomy, tumors, kidney diseases and geriatric care.

The author Avicenna was the first physician to observe the communicability of diseases such as tuberculosis and dysentery, the spread of diseases through water, the properties and preparation of alcohol and sulfuric acid, the genetic nature of certain conditions, and the sweet taste of urine in those with diabetes.

Ibn Sina recognized ‘physiological psychology’ in treating illnesses involving emotions. From the clinical perspective, Ibn Sina developed a system for associating changes in the pulse rate with inner feelings, which has been viewed as anticipating the word association test of Jung. He is said to have treated a terribly ill patient by feeling the patient’s pulse and reciting aloud to him the names of provinces, districts, towns, streets and people. By noticing how the patient’s pulse quickened when names were mentioned, Ibn Sina deduced that the patient was in love with a girl whose home Ibn Sina was able to locate by the digital examination. The man took Ibn Sina’s advice, married the girl, and recovered from his illness.

To enlighten Avicenna was Ibn Sina he is among the Muslim scholars and philosophers who diverted their legacy to the West and awakened Europe to the dawn of Renaissance.


Ibn Sina (973-1037) was a sort of universal genius, known first as a physician. To his works on medicine he afterward added religious tracts, poems, works on philosophy, on logic, as physics, on mathematics, and on astronomy. He was also a statesman and a soldier

This image is an early-15th-century Persian copy of the opening page of Book Four of Ibn Sina's (Avicenna) Canon of Medicine, written in the 11th century, parts of which were used in European medical schools as late as the 19th century.




The Reynolds collection has a copy of the first Arabic edition of Al-Qanun to appear in the West, published in Rome in 1593 (Sarton 711). Also, the Reynolds Library holds a Latin translation from 1556, Liber canonis, de medicines cordialibus, et cantica. This is an edition of the original Latin translation of the Canon by Gerard of Cremona (1147-1187).

Sunday 17 June 2007

The 99 beautiful names of Allah

The 99 Names of Allah has inspired veteran British composer John Tavener to create his new classical soundtrack "The Beautiful Names," to be played in Westminster Cathedral.

"All I can say is, it’s a wonderful text — basically a list of names, some of majesty, some of mercy — that I’ve set as theophanies: as soundings-forth on the nature of the divine, with music that reflects their meaning. The Beneficent, the Opener, the Subtle," Tavener told The New York Times on Sunday, June 17.



Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful


La ilaha illallah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, Al-Malik, Al-Quddus, As-Salam, Al-Mu'min, Al-Muhaymin, Al-'Aziz,

Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir, Al-Khaliq, Al-Bari', Al-Musawwir, Al-Ghaffar, Al-Qahhar, Al-Wahhab, Ar-Razzaq, Al-Fattah, Al-'Alim,

Al-Qabid, Al-Basit, Al-Khafid, Ar-Rafi', Al-Mu'izz, Al-Muzill, As-Sami', Al-Basir, Al-Hakam, Al-'Adl, Al-Latif, Al-Khabir, Al-Halim, Al-'Azim, Al-Ghafur, Ash-Shakur, Al-'Ali, Al-Kabir, Al-Hafiz, Al-Muqit,

Al-Hasib, Aj-Jalil, Al-Karim, Ar-Raqib, Al-Mujib, Al-Wasi', Al-Hakim, Al-Wadud, Al-Majid, Al-Ba'ith, Ash-Shahid,

Al-Haqq, Al-Wakil, Al-Qawi, Al-Matin, Al-Wali, Al-Hamid, Al-Muhsi, Al-Mubdi', Al-Mu'id, Al-Muhyi, Al-Mumit, Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum,

Al-Wajid, Al-Majid, Al-Wahid, Al-Ahad, As-Samad, Al-Qadir, Al-Muqtadir, Al-Muqaddim, Al-Mu'akhkhir, Al-Awwal, Al-Akhir,

Az-Zahir, Al-Batin, Al-Wali, Al-Muta'ali, Al-Barr, At-Tawwab, Al-Muntaqim, Al-'Afuw, Ar-Ra'uf, Malik-ul-Mulk, Dhul-Jalali-wal-Ikram,

Al-Muqsit, Aj-Jami', Al-Ghani, Al-Mughni, Al-Mani', Ad-Daarr,

An-Nafi', An-Nur, Al-Hadi, Al-Badi', Al-Baqi,

Al-Warith, Ar-Rashid, As-Sabur.

Wednesday 13 June 2007

Italy : From Pisa

Impariamo a conoscere il mondo musulmano
Let's start learning about the Muslim world ...



'He who has not seen the Duomo of Pisa has not seen one of the finest things in the world," wrote the medieval chronicler Bernardo Marangone.

The Duomo Pisa (Cathedral Pisa) is the largest Romanesque church in Tuscany. This buildings have great unity in spite of using various architectual elements such as mozaic of Byzantine, pointed Islamic arch, small arcade of Lombardy and colonnade of Old Roma.

When student and even after I aspired, yearned, and dreamed to go to the west universities to learn, work( not sure! ) and live ( not sure! ) …

But wasn’t the opposite in the past!?

Wasn’t Arabic the International Language of learning and diplomacy!?

Was there a unique way to write the Roman numbers!?

There is a Roman tombstone in York, England, of Lucius Duccius Rufinius, who was the standard bearer of the VIIII legion ( 9th), and was XXIIX years old (28).

VIIII witch is [5+1+1+1+1] instead of IX witch is [ 10-1]and XXIIX [ 10+10+(10-1-1)] instead of XXVIII witch is [10+10+5+1+1+1]

Today, on some clock face, the hours are marked as I to XII. However, If you look at four, it is IIII instead of IV witch is ( 5-1).

Remember this type of clock was invented centuries later.

With Roman numbers, they have to be good at adding and subtracting!

Also, You can't tell from the length of the number, how big it is!
MMVII is 2007 and MDCCCLXXXVIII is 1888.

Europe used to send their people to study to the Islamic countries such as Andalusia (Spain), Baghdad, Algeria … etc.

Leonardo of Pisa known as Fibonacci [pronounced fib-on-arch-ee] short for filius Bonacci was one; He grew up with a North African education and later travelled extensively around the Mediterranean coast there he realised the many advantages of the "Hindu-Arabic" system over all the others.- the positional system WE USE TODAY - based on ten digits with its decimal point and a symbol for zero: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

His father , Guglielmo Bonacci, was a kind of customs officer in the North African town of Bugia (Bougie , Algeria ), now called Bejaia where candles were exported to France. They are still called "bougies" in French

Don't confuse Leonardo da Vinci! was born about 200 years after the death of Leonardo of Pisa.

Saturday 9 June 2007

Italy & The Qur'an

The World Wide Web is a great place to find information. Understanding could take a lifetime...

May 14, 1999 - John Paul II kisses the Qur'an at the Vatican.






It would be unthinkable also for you that this mosque could exist in Rome :

The Grand Mosque of Rome, Its the Largest mosque in Europe


San Cataldo, Palermo


The Cathedral of Palermo ( Sicily, Italy ) is an architectural complex ...





The first column on the left belonged to the original basilica and the subsequent mosque, as testified by the Qur'an verse carved on it.

Wednesday 6 June 2007

My Wish

As I work on that project ...I wish I could speak of Allah like this!



Next Destination Italy!

Friday 1 June 2007

Croatia : The First Destination

It goes without saying that it is impossible to write a post that would satisfy and please every reader. Its only when we were searching on net we realized how difficult it is to compile and write about our First Destination: Croatia

We do not speak the language and had no definite plans as to where we would go...but we have worked hard during the past three days. I personally feel satisfied with our efforts so far:

"Otac jedan, jedan mati
prvo bî nam valja znati
jer(=zašto)ćemo se pasji klati?
Hodte nami vi na viru."

[Children of one father, and one mother,
That’s of what we should be aware,
Why should we engage in warfare?
Come and embrace our faith.]

This was beautifully and clearly expressed by Muhamed Hevaji Uskjufi of the village Soline near Tuzla, in his poem Ja kauri vama velju (I’m telling you Christians).

In one of the stanzas he calls on the Christians to also convert to the Prophet Muhammed”s religion, as they were of the same origin and it would prove nonsense to fight because of religious differences.

The Islam in Croatia was introduced by the Muslim Ottoman Empire. This civilization was present on Croatian soil from the 15th to the 19th century (in eastern parts of former Yugoslavia until the beginning of the 20th century). Many Croats converted to Islam.

The Muslim Slavs are in great majority of Croatian descent, and constitute now a nation, recognized according to their own wish in 1968 (Muslimani has been the usual name since the beginning of the 20th century). Except in Croatia they live today mostly in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sandzak (a province in the south of Serbia, between Montenegro, Kosovo and Bosnia). The Muslims constitute over 1.3% of the population of Croatia 4,437,460 (2001).

The aljamiado literature ( The term aljamia: Arabic Ai adjamiyya was used to designate the writing of non-Arabic languages in the Arabic script) was an eviden example of how the establishment of Turkish rule over Bosniw and Herzegovine resulted in a sizeable part of the Croatian population accepting Islam, although this conversion to Islam did not make one Turkish, as was unjustly considered by the Christians. These Islamized Croats continued to be aware of their origin and their belonging to the Croatian ethnic community.

Islam left valuable written and architectural monuments, like in Spain for instance.

One of the oldest texts written in Arabica (which is in fact Arabic script for the Croatian language) is a love song called "Chirvat-türkisi" (= Croatian song) from 1588, written by a certain Mehmed in Bosnia. This manuscript is held in the National Library in Vienna. Except for literature Arabica was also used in religious schools and administration. Of course, it was in much lesser use than other scripts. The last book in Arabica was printed in 1941.

CHIRVAT-TÜRKISI (hrvatska pjesma)



Zagreb

In Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, there had been several hundred mosques from the Turkish time, out of which only one survived.

Why can’t we worship in peace or go about our daily business without so much disaster ...There is a good faith in the unity of people.

Let us mention that Croatia's capital Zagreb has one of the biggest and most beautiful newly built mosques in Europe, although in Turkish time it had none (Zagreb was never occupied by the Turks).



Dubrovnik

That proud coastal city known as Ragusa in the Middle Ages, and famous for its successful resistance to the Turks, there are remnants of Islamic influence. Paying annual tribute to maintain their independence as a seafaring and trading power, Ragusans prided themselves on their freedom. Yet in the Gothic chapel of the Franciscan monastery, a superb triumph of medieval Christian architecture, the rug beneath the altar is unmistakably an Islamic prayer rug.

When asked about it, a resident will say, "That is an old Bosnian rug."

"But it looks so Turkish in its bright colors and geometric patterns and the type of weaving."

The local resident shrugs, "You are mistaken. Rug weaving is a very old Bosnian craft."

Neither is wrong. It is a Bosnian craft, but one learned from the Turks in the years following the Turkish conquest of Bosnia in the 15th century...

It was George Bernard Shaw who said, "Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik"...

Mekkah slide (tune from bosnian traditinl. religiously song


Croatian islamic girlband "Arabeske"

Thursday 31 May 2007

Croatians and Qur'an

The first translation of the Quran into a Western language was made into Latin. It was carried out by Hermanus Dalmata (Istria, Croatia ) and Robertus Rotenesis in 1143, but was not published until 1543.

Many later English translations were based on a Latin version by Father Ludovic Maracci in 1698. Maracci was the confessor of Pope Innocent XI and was taught Arabic by a Turk.

To be realistic one should never expect any translation to convey in full the idea expressed in the Arabic original.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, "translation" means expressing the sense of a word, sentence, or book in another language.



Introduction: Surah Yasin

It is a 36th surah of the Holy Quran in order. Surah Yasin "The Muhammad (peace be upon him" was revealed in Mecca, Arabia on Muhammad (peace be upon him) the last Prophet and Messenger of God (Allah) Almighty .The surah has taken its title from verse 1. In this surah the word Yasin has been addressed for Messenger and Rasool Muhammad (peace be upon him) of Allah Almighty , at that time the inhabitant of Mecca, Arabia were asking Muhammad (peace be upon him) for the proof that he is a true messenger of God Almighty and in reply Allah Almighty asked Muhammad (peace be upon him) that tell these people that my message (Quran) is witness on this that i am the Messenger and Rasool of God Almighty so read and ponder into Quran and you will reach on to reality that I am the Nabi & Rasool of Allah Almighty . The total number of verse in this surah are 83.



Summary of Surah : verse 1-83


1: O that person (towards whom this Wahi is being sent, meaning: O Our Rasool).

2-3: (These people are demanding proof of your being the Rasool. Tell them that), "The Quran which is full of wisdom, is a testimony to the fact that I am from amongst the Rusul of the Almighty . If you reflect over it, the reality will become clear to you.

4: " (That) I am on that correct, straight and well-balanced path, which will take mankind to its destination".

5: (O Rasool! As soon as they reflect on this Quran, it will become clear to them that it is neither composed by you nor by any other human being. They will realise that) The Quran has been revealed from the Almighty , the One who is responsible for the nourishment of all human beings and whatever there is in the universe.

6: This has been revealed to you so that you should (initially) warn those people who are unaware of the right course of life because their ancestors had not been warned about the destructive results of their erroneous ways (28:46; 32:3). (Thereafter gradually extend the sphere of your preaching to other people and nations, because you have been sent as a messenger to all mankind - 7:158).

7: But (instead of reflecting over this Quran and then trying to understand it) they rejected it simply because it invited them towards a path which was different to the one followed by their ancestors. (It is an accepted fact that people who adopt such an attitude generally do not accept the truth; and this principle is also applicable here).

8: (Those who blindly follow a path) They are like people around whose necks have been put yokes which reach up to their chins, thus forcing their heads up; and because of which they cannot see the straight path ahead of them.

9: (Such people neither listen to reason, nor do they have a correct appreciation of their surroundings. Thus they can neither take to the right path, nor can they take into consideration the historical evidence around them, from which they could draw some lessons from past episodes). A barrier (of ignorance) is raised in front of them, as well as behind them; and their vision is shrouded in veils. Therefore they cannot see.

10: As such it is all the same to them whether you warn them about their erroneous ways or not. They will never accept the truth (2:6).

11: The only person who can benefit from the warnings regarding the awful consequences of his erroneous path, is the one who utilizes his intellect and ponders; and then follows the directions given by the Divine Law. He is afraid of going against Ar-Rahman, and of the destructive results of doing so confronting him as a stark reality. O Rasool, then give him the of glad tidings of the wholesome results of following the right course. Also tell him that he would be protected from all dangers and get excellent and generous rewards for his labour.

12: Thus We alone give new life to dead nations and thereafter, Our Law of Mukafat records whatever they do for their future, preserving it for the coming generations, alongwith the traces they leave behind. In this way each and every action of theirs is preserved in this book, which lays down a standard to test the good or bad deeds. In other words it continues to sort out the good or bad deeds, all the way.

13: Explain to them this reality by way of a parable. There was a habitation where We sent Our Rusul.

14: In the beginning We sent unto them two (Rusul). The people belied them both. Then We sent the third one to strengthen the previous ones. All Rusul reiterated that they were sent by the Almighty .

15: But the people retorted, "You are a human being like us (so how can you be the messengers of the Almighty ) Ar-Rahman has revealed nothing unto you and therefore whatever you say are lies".

16: They replied, "Our Rabb is a witness that We have been sent by Him towards you as His messengers.

17: And it is our duty to convey to you His message in clear terms (and we have nothing more to tell you)".

18: The people told the messengers, "You are an extremely unlucky omen for us (as all the time you are talking of a coming doom). Remember, if you do not desist, we will throw you out (or stone you to death). In any case we will certainly give you a very grievous punishment".

19: The messengers replied, "The Omen which you call unlucky is but due to your own misdeeds. As for your warning that you will give us severe punishment, is it because we advise you to save yourselves of the coming doom? In reality you are a people who have transgressed all limits".

20: (All these people paid no heed to them, but) Someone from the outskirts of the city (where some wealthy respectable people lived) came running (to help stop the people inflicting any harm on the messengers) and said, "O people! You should follow and obey these messengers.

21: These Rusul, who are your well-wishers, do not ask for any reward from you sin return. They clearly seem to be on the right path and are asking you to follow the same".

22: "As far as I am concerned, particularly after receiving such clear directives, I have no excuse for not accepting the sovereignty of He Who has created me and towards Whose Law of Mukafat you are approaching. You cannot go out of its control. All of you are being drawn towards it and there is no escape from that.

23: "Should I abandon such a God and instead accept these other beings as my master? The helplessness of these entities is such that if I am being punished by the Law of Mukafat Ar-Rahman, for any of my faults, the support of these deities cannot bring me any good. They shall never be able to save me.

24: "Just think, even after knowing all this I take them as my gods, then who else would be in more manifest error than I?

25: "I believe in the Almighty , Who provides development to you all. Therefore listen to me and accept only Him as your Almighty ".

26: He pronounced Eiman in such a courageous and fearless tone that almost immediately the Law of Mukafat announced that all the doors of jannat were open for him. But despite this his nation did not listen to him, although in utter despair he was saying, "I wish my people had listened to me".

27: "As a result of my following a righteous course, the Almighty has saved me from all the destruction and included me amongst the most honorable people".

28: After he had exhausted all the means, that nation finally faced the hour of doom. We did not have to send down any army of angels from the heavens to cause this destruction. In fact We never send such forces from the heavens. Their own misdeeds are enough to cause their destruction.

29: There was just one single blast which caused complete chaos. And lo, nothing was left behind but a still and silent heap of ashes.

30: Alas! How miserable and terrible is the plight of the man who ridicules the one who brings a message that is full of life.

31: These are the historical episodes which We narrate before them as examples. (O Rasool!) Don't they (your addressees) ever ponder over the facts that We destroyed many generations before them, because whenever someone came to call them towards Divine Guidance, they did not pay any heed and instead ridiculed him.

32: If they (your addressees) do not consider these facts worthy of attention, that does not mean that they will escape the grip of Our Law of Mukafat. Like their predecessors, they too will be punished for their misdeeds. The time is not far off when all of them will be arraigned. Then with their own eyes and according to Our Law of Mukafat, they will see the results of their misdeeds.

33: They make fun of such warnings and cannot comprehend how a tiny and weak group of people can one day, attain such great strength that people would stand before them in sheer helplessness. But if they had the vision, they would see for themselves how our Law of Nature instills vitality in lifeless things. For example, with a sprinkle of rain, We could bring back to life a piece of barren land which has no sign of life whatsoever. It then starts producing crops of grain that become means of sustenance for them.

34: And gardens of date-palms and grapes would appear; and springs of running water would gush forth from within it.

35: The fruits of the trees provide nutrition; and all this is not the product of their hands only, but is brought about as per Our Laws.

(Accordingly, this small group of people which at present has no strength and power, would be so enriched by life and the fruits of obeying our Laws, that not only would it be self sufficient, but even others would share their bounty).

Ask them if they really want their efforts to also bear fruit? (If they do, then they should follow Our Laws according to which We grant new life to nations).

36: (Be firm in the conviction that if you follow His laws such results are bound to accrue. Do not ever think that things would not happen the way God says they will). He is far above doing that. Do you not see how the various vegetations grow from the earth as per His Laws of Nature? If you work according to the laws and methods established by Him, the same results are always achieved. Your own procreation occurs according to His Laws of Nature; and so does the creation of other things about which you have no knowledge at present.

37: And consider the outer world and see (for instance) how We strip the blanket of bright daylight from the darkness of the night, after which darkness prevails all over.

38: Also ponder how the sun is moving unhampered in its course. All this is happening according to measures determined and set by the One Who is Almighty and all-knowing. All His Laws are based on knowledge.

39: And see the moon for which We have determined various stages. (It appears like a beautiful crescent and then gradually becomes the full moon, after which it starts waning till it becomes like an old date stalk, dried up and curved).

40: All these huge heavenly bodies are not static in space, but are in continuous motion. However, all their movements are according to a discipline based on set measures and calculations. It can never happen that the sun, by speeding up, can overtake the moon; or that the night lingers on beyond the point where the day had to start (meaning that the sun rises little after the appointed time). No, this never happens. Each and every one of them keeps moving through space, in its own orbit, according to the speed and course set for it (21:33).

41: The skies, after all, are too far away. See with what confidence you load your families, young and old, onto boats; and how these boats sail through the seas and rivers laden with all this weight.

42: And like these boats, We have also created other things for them to ride in on their travels.

43: If Our Law of Mukafat is not in operation all the time, the boats would float sometimes and sink on other occasions, even under similar circumstances. In such a situation no one would be able to help the people on the boats, nor would they reach ashore safely.

44: But since We want to maintain this system of the universe for a determined period, whatever law We have prescribed (for a particular thing) keeps on working accordingly. Our Law never changes. (This is that very firm foundation on the basis of which you live a peaceful life with so much confidence).

45: (Just as there are unchangeable Laws for things in the universe, laws are also fixed for mankind. But contrary to other things in the universe, man has been given the freedom of choice. He could, out of his free will, either obey or go against them).

Keeping this discretion in mind, they are advised to lead their lives according to the Divine Laws, so that their present life would become better; and also to adopt the same attitude for the future. In this way both your physical life as well as your own 'self'would develop nicely. This is what is meant by the pleasantries of the present and the future.

46: Their attitude is such that whenever Divine Guidance is presented to them, they turn away from it.

47: They also raise strange objections. (For instance) They object when they are told to keep open and accessible for the needy, the means of nourishment that the Almighty has provided to them. Those who deny the Divine Directives of Rabubiyat tell those who have faith in them, that if Allah Almighty had willed that wealth should be distributed in a way that no one remains hungry in the world, then why did He not arrange it so by Himself? Why is He asking human beings to establish a system in which everyone adequately gets the necessities of life.

Who should tell them that by saying so they are committing a big mistake. (God establishes His system in human society by human hands only. The purpose is that human beings should use their ability to choose properly, so that their personalities also develop. Otherwise it was not at all difficult for Him (God) to have made mankind devoid of free will, just like the other things in the universe which are bound to exist by the Laws of God. By saying that had God wanted so He should have done this Himself, man is denying himself the dignity of the freedom of choice and is trying to run away from his responsibility. This is his gross error of judgement (6:149; 16:35; 43:20).

48: And when they are told that if they do not leave the erroneous path its result would be destruction, they say, "If what you say is true, when will that doom come.

49: (According to Our Law of Mukafat there is a time lag between the action and the result to be manifested in visible from. It is due to this gap that people raise such objections but when this intermission is over and the result emerges in the form of a single blast, there is hue and cry all around).

They are only waiting for that blast, which will seize them so abruptly, that they will still be busy arguing with each other.

50: So sudden their end will be that they will not even have time to make a will or go back to their families.

51: This state will not remain confined to this world, but will continue in the hereafter. Then when the trumpet is sounded for 'the new life', life will be given a new form and all of them would come out of their abodes, running towards the court of their Rabb.

52: They shall say in utter surprise "Woe unto us. We have been roused from our sleep!" Whereupon they will be told, "This is the appointed Hour for the disclosure of results which Ar-Rahman had promised and whose truth His messengers used to affirm".

53: It will be just one single blast creating a huge commotion; and all of them will be arraigned before Our Law of Mukafat.

54: They shall be assured, "Today no human being shall be wronged in the least. Only the results of your own deeds will confront you".

55: Surely, those who are destined for 'Jannah' in reward for their deeds would be immensely busy in making arrangements for the new life; and all that they do would be a source of great enjoyment for them.

56: Alongwith their companions they will be reclining on couches in a state of sheer happiness.

57: They will get ample fruit as a reward for their deeds, and they will be provided whatever they ask for.

58: All this is planned to ensure that the development of their personalities and completion of their abilities are not deficient, and that there is no danger of them ever losing these traits. All this would happen as per Allah's Law of Rabubiyyat, which has made sufficient provisions for the development and completion of human abilities.

59: At that stage society will no longer remain intermingled. The guilty will be separated from the noble. No one will be able to cheat others in the guise of being a gentleman; and the guilty ones will be unable to enjoy the fruits of Jannat.

60: The criminals will be questioned, "Did I not send you directives not to follow the rebellious powers and selfish instincts, as these are your open enemies which can estrange one brother from the other.

61: "You should follow Our Law, as that is the only balanced and straight path that will take you to your destination.

62: "You were also warned that your selfish instincts and rebellious leaders would mislead many of your groups and that as such the majority amongst you would go astray. We had told you these things very clearly but you did not use your intellect and wisdom.

63: "The result is this 'Jahannum' about which you were repeatedly warned.

64: "Now enter and endure it; and hear once again that this is the outcome of your persistent denial of following the right course".

65: On that Day it will not be necessary to record their confession. Their own hands will speak to Us and their feet will bear witness to whatever crimes they had committed. Their deeds will become open proof against them. Man will stand witness against his own 'self'. (17:13-14; 75:14-15).

66: (This is Our Law of Mukafat according to which decisions regarding the rise and fall of nations in this world as well as in the hereafter, are taken). O Rasool! The end result of your enemies will also be their destruction as per this Law. If Our Law of Mashiyyat had not allowed everyone to follow the path they liked, it was not difficult for Us to deprive them (the opponents of the Divine Order) of their vision so that they would have strayed forever in search of the right path. And they would not have found anything.

67: In spite of all their faculties, We could also have weakened and transmuted them to the extent that they would have been unable to move forward or turn back. (And in this way We could have blunted their opposition. But We did not want to do it.

68: We do not deprive people of their powers in this manner. Actually what happens to nations is similar to the process of ageing. In old age, one grows weak and one's faculties become weaker under the physical laws. Instead of growing stronger, the physical faculties are reversed. The same is the case with nations. When they leave the right path their faculties become exhausted and they start regressing. Why don't they ponder on these facts.

69: When We explain things in similies or parables, it does not mean that We are not serious and are speaking casually in a poetic manner. We neither taught such poetry to Our Rasool, nor is it worthy of a person who has been assigned to deliver such a revolutionary and vital message. This is certainly not poetry (26:224). These are but historical facts and a code of life which are vivid and illuminating.

70: And O Rasool! This code of life has been given to you so that you may warn the nation which still exhibits signs of life and wants to survive. If they still refuse to adopt the right path, they will themselves see that whatever We had said was the truth and not poetry.

71: (Contrary to the condition of existing nations, the state of dead nations is like that of cattle; an animal which has no objective in life. It lives its life for the sake of its master and dies in his service.

Don't they ever ponder over the fact that they have complete mastery and command over the animals which We have created for them.

72: We made these animals subservient to them. Some of them they use for riding; and others they slaughter.

73: And they derive other benefits from them, like drinking their milk. Even after knowing so much, why do they not take to the right course of life.

74: Also they leave Allah Almighty aside and consider other deities to be sovereign, reverting to them for succor and believing them to have the power and authority to do so.

75: Tell them that these deities have no power to help in any way. Not only can they not help them, they are incapable of even protecting their own selves. In fact to protect these deities, a host of followers and priests have to remain alert and vigilant all the time. At the time of clashes, these very protectors themselves get arrested by their opponents.

76: So, O Rasool! Do not be aggrieved about what they say. We are certainly aware of what they are saying openly and what they are hiding in their hearts.

77: (Man's condition is such that he can forget his own reality, become rebellious and follow his emotions. He does not reflect over the fact that We had created him out of a mere drop of sperm (over which he had no control). And then he openly opposes Us.

78: He starts talking questioningly about Us and becomes oblivious to how he himself was created. He even denies Almighty 's statement that you would be brought to life once again. He also questions who could give life to bones that have crumbled to dust. (37:16; 73:3).

79: Tell them that the Almighty Who created them for the first time will bring them back to life. He is fully aware and has full knowledge regarding all His creations (as regards the manner and stages through which His creations have to pass).

80: It is God's Law of Mashiyat which keeps moisture and heat combined in the green branches of the trees (that is the flames are hidden within the branches). When the branch is ignited you can see this fire with your own eyes. (Can He not preserve the energy of life in a similar manner).

81: How can the Almighty , Who created the heavens and the earth (when nothing existed before) not be able to recreate them (after death)? Why not! It is within His absolute powers to create anything (He likes); and He has the knowledge of everything.

82: He does not have to bring any raw material from anywhere for the purpose of creation. His Law of creation is that whenever He wills something, the process of its creation is initiated rightaway.

83: Therefore the Almighty , Who has absolute command and control over everything, is far above the notion that He is incapable of bringing the dead to life once again.

Remember! Just as the supremacy and sovereignty of God encompasses the whole universe, His Law of Mukafat also encompasses human deeds. Every step of yours leads towards it, in this life as well as in the hereafter. No action of yours will remain without results, whether the results come before your eyes in this life or later in the hereafter. This in fact is the basis of Deen.

LAST breath

The Teacher



Was posted on FBD by Shammy:

" Asalamu Alaikum Waramatullahi Wabarakatuh

Mohamed

I had to post this, really is beautiful

Salaam "


And YES ...

The Encyclopedia Britannica calls him “the most successful of all religious personalities of the world.”

George Bernard Shaw said, “if Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) were alive today, he would succeed in solving all those problems which threaten to destroy human civilization in our times.”

Thomas Carlyle was amazed as to how one man, single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades.

You may be an atheist or an agnostic or you may belong to any of the religious denominations that exist in the world today. You may have been a Communist or a believer in democracy and freedom. No matter what you are, and no matter what your religious and political beliefs, personal and social habits happen to be – you still must know this man.

He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numberless social and political reforms, established a dynamic and powerful society to practice and represent his teachings, and he revolutionized the worlds of human thought and human action for all time.

and he accomplished all these wonders in the unbelievably short span of twenty-three years.

The least YOU should do as a thinking, sensitive, concerned human being is to stop for one brief moment and ask yourself: Could it be that these statements, extraordinary and revolutionary as they sound, are really true? Supposing they really are true, and you did not know this man Muhammad (pbuh) or hear about his teachings? Or did not know him well and intimately enough to be able to benefit from his guidance and example? Is it not time you responded to this tremendous challenge and made some effort to know him? It will not cost you anything but it may well prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life.

Come, let us make a new discovery, the life of this wonderful man Muhammad (pbuh), the like of whom never walked on this earth, and whose example and teachings can change YOUR life and OUR world for the better. May God shower His choicest blessings upon him!


The lyrics for Sami Yusuf's song "Al Mu'allim" (The Teacher) was emailed to me Tue, 8 May 2007 by Kathy.

Al-Mu'allim

We once had a Teacher
The Teacher of teachers,
He changed the world for the better
And made us better creatures,
Oh Allah we’ve shamed ourselves
We’ve strayed from Al-Mu'allim,
Surely we’ve wronged ourselves
What will we say in front him?
Oh Mu'allim...

Chorus

He was Muhammad salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
Muhammad, mercy upon Mankind,
He was Muhammad salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
Muhammad, mercy upon Mankind,
Teacher of all Mankind.Abal Qasim
[one of the names of the Prophet]
Ya Habibi ya Muhammad
(My beloved O Muhammad)
Ya Shafi'i ya Muhammad
(My intercessor O Muhammad)
Khayru khalqillahi Muhammad
(The best of Allah’s creation is Muhammad)
Ya Mustafa ya Imamal Mursalina
(O Chosen One, O Imam of the Messengers)
Ya Mustafa ya Shafi'al 'Alamina
(O Chosen One, O intercessor of the worlds)
He prayed while others slept
While others ate he’d fast,
While they would laugh he wept
Until he breathed his last,
His only wish was for us to be
Among the ones who prosper,
Ya Mu'allim peace be upon you,
Truly you are our Teacher,
Oh Mu'allim..

Chorus

Ya Habibi ya Muhammad
(My beloved O Muhammad)
Ya Shafi'i ya Muhammad
(My intercessor O Muhammad)
Ya Rasuli ya Muhammad
(O My Messenger O Muhammad)
Ya Bashiri ya Muhammad
(O bearer of good news O Muhammad)
Ya Nadhiri ya Muhammad
(O warner O Muhammad)
'Ishqu Qalbi ya Muhammad
(The love of my heart O Muhammad)
Nuru 'Ayni ya Muhammad
(Light of my eye O Muhammad)
He taught us to be just and kind
And to feed the poor and hungry,
Help the wayfarer and the orphan child
And to not be cruel and miserly,
His speech was soft and gentle,
Like a mother stroking her child,
His mercy and compassion,
Were most radiant when he smiled

Chorus

Abal Qasim
[one of the names of the Prophet]
Ya Habibi ya Muhammad
(My beloved O Muhammad)
Ya Shafi'i ya Muhammad
(My intercessor O Muhammad)
Khayru khalqillahi Muhammad
(The best of Allah’s creation is Muhammad)
Ya Mustafa Ya Imamal Mursalina
(O Chosen One O Imam of the Messengers)
Ya Mustafa ya Shafi'al 'Alamina
(O Chosen One O intercessor of the worlds)

Lyrics and Composition: Sami YusufProducer: Sami Yusuf

Mecca 570 A.D.

Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the son of Abd Allah, an Arab trader and Aminah, born in the year 570 A.D. After their marriage, Abd Allah spent several months with his wife but had to leave her and travel with one of the caravans to trade with Syria. He belonged to the well known Arab tribe called the Quraysh. On his way back to Mecca from Syria Abd Allah became ill and had to stop off in Yathrib to recover. The caravan, however, continued on its way and arrived back in Mecca without him. On hearing of 'Abd Allah’s illness, 'Abd al-Muttalib sent another son, al-Harith, to bring 'Abd Allah back to Mecca, but he was too late. When he arrived in Yathrib Abd Allah was dead. Aminah was pregnant at the time and was heart-broken to lose her husband and the father of the child she would soon give birth to. Only God knew that this orphan child would one day be a great Prophet.

On Monday, the twelfth day of Rabi al-Awwal of the Islamic Calendar in the Year of the Elephant, Aminah gave birth to a son. Allah sends man many signs when one of His chosen Prophets is born. And on that twelfth day of Rabi al-Awwal in the year 570 A.D., many such signs were seen. Some were seen by Jewish scholars who had read in their scriptures of a coming Prophet. One of these learned men in Yathrib, for instance, saw a brilliant new star he had never seen before as he studied the heavens that night. He called the people around him and, pointing the star out to them, told them a Prophet must have been born. Aminah sent news of the birth to her father-in-law, Abd al-Muttalib, who was sitting near the Ka'bah at the time. He was very happy and began at once to think of a name for the boy. An ordinary name would not do. Six days came and went and still he had not decided. But on the seventh day, as he lay asleep near the Ka'bah, Abd al-Muttalib dreamt that he should give the baby the unusual name of Muhammad. And so the child was called Muhammad (pbuh), which means 'the Praised One'.

Like many other women in Mecca, Aminah decided to send her son away from the city for his early years to the desert where it was healthier. Women from the desert used to come to Mecca to collect the new babies and they would then keep them until they developed into strong children , for which they were well paid by the parents. Among the women who traveled to Mecca to fetch a new baby at the time Aminah's son was born, was a Bedouin woman called HaIimah. All the other women of the tribe to which Halimah belonged, the Bani Sa'd, found a child to take back with them, but not Halimah. The only baby left was Muhammad (pbuh).
Usually the father paid the wet-nurse but Muhammad's (pbuh) father was dead. So no one wanted to take him, even though he was from one of the noblest families of Quraysh. Halimah did not want to take him either, but she did not want to be the only woman to go back to her tribe without a baby to bring up. She asked her husband whether she should take Muhammad (pbuh) or not. He advised her to do so, adding, 'Perhaps God will bless us because of him.' They started on the return journey and as soon as Halimah began to feed Muhammad (pbuh) her milk suddenly increased and she had enough for him as well as her baby son. When they were back home, everything began to change. The land became green, and the date trees, one of their main sources of food, gave lots of fruit. Even the sheep and their old she-camel began to give plenty of milk. Halimah and her husband knew that this good fortune had come because they had the new baby, Muhammad (pbuh), whom they had come to love as if he were their own son.

When Muhammad (pbuh) was two years old, Halimah took him back to his mother. She pleaded with Aminah, however, to let her keep him for a little longer and to her great joy the mother agreed. During his time with Halimah’s family in the desert, Muhammad (pbuh) played with her children and together they would take the sheep out to graze. At other times, however, Halimah would often find him sitting alone.

Muhammad (pbuh) returned to live with his mother in Mecca when he was about three years old. Three years later Aminah decided to take her son to visit his uncles in Yathrib. She told her maid, Barakah, to prepare everything they would need for the long journey, and then they joined one of the caravans going there.

They stayed in Yathrib a month and Muhammad (pbuh) enjoyed the visit with his cousins. The climate there was very pleasant and he learned to swim and to fly a kite. On their way back to Mecca, however, Aminah became ill and died. She was buried in the village at al-Abwa not far from Yathrib. Muhammad (pbuh) returned sadly to Mecca with his mother's maid. He was now six years old and had lost both his father and mother. He was then adopted by his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, who loved him dearly and kept him by his side at all times.

It was the custom of Abd al-Muttalib to sit on a blanket near the Ka'bah. There he was always surrounded by people who had come to speak to him. No one was allowed to sit on the blanket with him, however, except his grandson Muhammad (pbuh). Two years later Abd al-Muttalib became ill and Muhammad (pbuh) stayed by him constantly. Abd al-Muttalib told his son, Abu Talib, to adopt Muhammad (pbuh) after his death, which he did. Abu Talib had many children of his own, but Muhammad (pbuh) immediately became part of his family and the favorite child.

The time came for the Quraysh to prepare a caravan to go to Syria. Abu Talib was going with them and he took Muhammad (pbuh) along. It was Muhammad's first journey to the north. After days of travel, the caravan arrived at a place near Syria where the Romans used to come to trade with the Arabs. Near this marketplace lived a monk called Bahira. His cell had been used by generations of monks before him and contained ancient manuscripts.

Bahira saw the caravan in the distance and was amazed to see that over it was a large white cloud. It was the only cloud in a clear blue sky and it appeared to be shading one of the travelers. The monk was even more surprised to see that the cloud seemed to follow the caravan but disappeared when the person it was shading sat down under a tree. Bahira knew from the scriptures that a prophet was expected to come after Jesus and it had been his wish to see this prophet before he died. Realizing that what he had just seen was a miracle, he began to think that his wish might, after all, come true.

The monk sent an invitation to the Meccans to come and eat with him. The Arabs were surprised because they often passed by and Bahira had never invited them before. When the group was all together for the meal, the monk said, 'Is this everyone?' 'No', someone said, 'a boy is left watching the camels.'

Bahira insisted that the boy should join them. The boy was Muhammad (pbuh). When he arrived Bahira said nothing, but watched him all through the meal. He noticed many things about his appearance which fitted the description in the old manuscripts. Later on he took him aside and asked Muhammad (pbuh) many questions. He soon found out how he felt about the idols in the Ka 'bah. When Bahira tried to make him swear by them, as the Arabs used to do, Muhammad (pbuh) said, 'There is nothing in this world that I hate more'. They talked together about God, and about Muhammad's life and family. What was said made Bahira certain that this was indeed the Prophet who would follow Jesus.

Then the monk went to Abu Talib and asked him how he was related to Muhammad (pbuh). Abu Talib told him that Muhammad (pbuh) was his son. Bahira replied that this could not be so because the boy was destined to grow up an orphan, and he ordered Abu Talib to watch over Muhammad (pbuh) with great care.

There are many stories told about Muhammad's youth. Some tell of how he used to take the family's sheep to graze and was always kind to them. While they grazed he would sit thinking about the mysteries of nature. Unlike those around him, he never worshipped the idols and never swore by them. He also wondered why people were always struggling for power and money, and this saddened him and made him feel lonely, but he kept his feelings to himself. He was a quiet, thoughtful boy, and rarely played with other boys of his age.

On one occasion, however, Muhammad (pbuh) went with some of the boys to a wedding in Mecca. When he reached the house he heard the sounds of music and dancing but just as he was about to enter he suddenly felt tired and, sitting down, fell asleep. He didn't wake up until late the next morning and thus missed the celebrations. In this way Allah prevented him from doing anything foolish for He was keeping Muhammad (pbuh) for something much more important.
http://www.thetruecall.com/home/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=50
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